Posts tagged bazaar del mundo

Casa Sol y Mar – the fourth restaurant in a family of fine Mexican eateries dispersed throughoutSan Diego– opened in May. The restaurant is located in the bustling Del Mar Highlands Town Center at 12865 El Camino Real, and is elaborately designed to reflect the true spirit ofMexico.

“Our philosophy is to offer great value and a delightful Mexican dining experience,” said Powers. “This includes memorable flavors, abundant selections, high quality and fresh ingredients, and a spirited, authentic environment that captures the essence of Mexican traditions.”

Guests will sense the warmth and enchantment ofMexicoas they enter through the beautiful wood and glass doors and find themselves standing beneath a high glowing ceiling and breathtaking iron chandelier. The interior of the restaurant is artfully painted in a fiesta of gold, crimson, and orange jewel tones, sparkling from wall to wall with Mexican folk art, festive embellishments, and glazed Mexican accent tiles in red, emerald, and orange hues.

The delicious menu is comprised of traditional Mexican dishes with an emphasis on flavor and freshness, including a large selection of regional entrees made from scratch, and award-winning seafood recipes that have been in the Bazaar del Mundo family for decades. The menu also features newly created small plates and appetizers, as well as entrees with a contemporary twist. Homemade dressings, salsas, guacamole and sauces are made fresh daily, along with hot corn and flour tortillas. There is also an extensive children’s menu, appetizing entrée salads and countless gluten-free, vegetarian and healthy dining selections.

In the lively cantina, guests enjoy giant frosty margaritas, sip fine Mexican beers and consume tasty appetizers and entrees. The cantina features flat screen TVs and reclaimed wood tables framed with black hammered iron and custom bar stools upholstered with bright wool fabrics hand woven by artisans in Oaxara, Mexico. In addition, Casa Sol y Mar offers a collection of top shelf, premium and specialty tequilas including Reposado and Anejo-aged in white oak casts for more than a year. Check out the Cantina menu here.

The Bazaar del Mundo Restaurants are famous for cheerful, strolling Mariachis who serenade guests Wednesday through Sunday evenings – completing the cultural experience.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Regis Philbin has logged over 17,000 hours of air time on television, the most in history. At 80 years young he still has that twinkle in his eye and is quick with a laugh. He exudes enjoyment of his profession and kindness to those who have watched him for so many years.

So what do Regis and Casa de Pico owner Diane Powers have in common: consistency. After more than 40 years of being a business leader in San Diego, Diane still has that same twinkle and the same enthusiasm to provide the best San Diego Mexican restaurant dining experience at her three thriving restaurants: Casa de Pico in La Mesa, Casa de Bandini in Carlsbad and Casa Guadalajara in Old Town. After 40 years of ownership, her commitment to her shops in Bazaar del Mundo is also as strong as ever.

Consistency has always been the hallmark of champions. Whether it be the star athlete who stays on the practice field longer than his teammates, the lead violinist in the symphony that practices while others sleep, or the business owner who works day after day with a smile and a determination inside to be the best , these are the people that we admire and respect.

Most business owners would tell you that 40 years of making payroll, committing to leases, dealing with thousands of customers and employees over that amount of time rivals 17,000 hours of smiling at a camera. This year Diane Powers and Casa de Pico, as well as the shops at Bazaar del Mundo, celebrate their 40th anniversaries. All of us at Casa de Pico consider it an honor to work with Diane, and we share her commitment to provide you the finest cuisine at the friendliest Mexican Restaurant in La Mesa.

Thank you Diane for your consistency and your dedication. As we’re sure Regis’ staff tells him, “It’s an honor to work alongside you every day.” We certainly feel the same way.

Perhaps you’ve had a chance to read the beautiful profile of Casa de Pico owner Diane Powers in today’s San Diego Union Tribune. If you’d like to see the online version you can read it at http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/aug/08/no-regrets-for-bazaar-del-mundo-maven/ The article details the challenges Diane faced with her enterprises in Old Town, San Diego. More important, it captures her winning spirit, her professionalism and her ability to persevere. Everyone who visits her restaurants: Casa de Pico in La Mesa, Casa de Bandini in Carlsbad, Casa Guadalajara in Old Town or her Bazaar del Mundo shops right next door to Casa Guadalajara are very thankful that she kept these businesses alive when they were being threatened. She then, along with the help of her husband Brent, relocated three of the four businesses, including Casa de Pico, and they are flourishing and visitors are as happy as ever.

Casa de Pico was relocated to La Mesa, CA, which is east of downtown San Diego and is referred to as being in “East County” in 2005. After a short hiatus, Brent spotted the opportunity to re-open “Pico” in the Grossmont Center in La Mesa. The trademark multi-colored umbrellas adorn the patio and are a welcome sight to anyone that enjoyed Pico in Old Town. There is plenty of patio seating, a very large and beautifully decorated dining section, a Cantina area where Happy Hour is held from 3-7 Monday-Friday, and another outdoor patio area just off of the Cantina.

The Casa de Pico management team of Julie Bell Gastelum and Lino Rodarte move heaven and earth to make sure that every visitor has an enjoyable experience. Parties of all sizes can be accommodated. It’s amazing what they’ve been able to do when large parties show up without reservations. They’re not turned away, Julie and Lino find a way to make it work and have the guests have a memorable evening.

Casa de Pico serves lunch and dinner daily, breakfast meetings are also held there and any group wanting to meet over breakfast is welcome. Parties of all kinds are held regularly at Pico: birthday’s, wedding rehearsal dinners, baby showers…we welcome the chance to make your event special.

Did we mention our Guacamole was voted the best in San Diego last month in a blind taste test? San Diego Magazine awarded us the honor and we know you’ll love it when you have it with chips or with any of our entrees. Come and enjoy all we have to offer. We’re located at 5500 Grossmont Drive at the Grossmont Center in La Mesa. You can reach us by phone at 619-463-3267. For a more detailed introduction to Casa de Pico visit our website at www.casadepico.com.